INTERVIEW: SUNSTONE RECORDS TALKS TO SOUND STALKER
Sound Stalker talks to Ant and Sie of Sunstone Records about upcoming releases, Soar Angelic Festival and their record bag favourites.
Why did you start your label?
"Ant - I went to a Liars gig in Liverpool, and there was a band called Beast supporting who really blew us away. They had no merchandise to buy at that time, and that was literally it. We said, why don't we press a record so we can listen to that at home. That was how it started, and pretty much the rational has been the same since, press stuff we want to own."
Where did the name 'Sunstone' come from?
"Ant - It comes from a key stone at Stonehenge. We wanted something British and pagan in terms of reference, I forget why now. Originally we were called Satori, but by the time we got the spelling right in the logo we found out there was another 15 labels with the same name."
How do new releases develop?
"Ant - It varies, we stumble across stuff and then chase the band, some of it arrives by post, some of it electronically. We've been working a lot with Nathan from Active Listener. He does digital releases of mind-blowing stuff, so we're going to do vinyl releases of some of the artists and records we're taken with."
Will your releases be re-pressed?
"Ant - If they are, then it'll be with different artwork, labels etc. The first presses, and the people that bought them in support of us deserve that. Being a record collector for the past 35 years personally I recognize that detail as necessary."
What releases are in the pipeline for Sunstone Records?
"Ant - Balduin's long player 'All in a Dream' will be released in July, White Candles 'Flowers for Delia' ep in July too. The Trappist Afterland lp will come out in early September, with a couple more singles between then and the end of the year; Haleiwa, which is kind of C86 crossed with NEU!, and Nine Shields who sound like Vashti Bunyan jamming with someone from the Warp stable."
What are you going to try to provide people with at Soar Angelic Festival?
"Ant - Interesting music, fun atmosphere, and some tunes to have a groove to. I'd like people to be able to remember it fondly. Maybe a Sunstone mug too?"
What should people expect from Sunstone artists, 'Three Dimensional Tanx' and 'Balduin' backed by 'The Lords Of Thyme', on the night?
"Ant - 2 very different sets. Balduin and the Lords will be like being transported back to 1968 and listening to very fine psychedelic pop music with early progressive leanings. 3D Tanx will pull you back into today pretty quickly. Raw, high-energy pop music."
What's definitely going to be in your record bag?
"Ant - For me I'll take some staples that people know; Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Small Faces, Hendrix, Cream etc. Then some lesser known UK and US psych and prog. Some Krautrock. Some South American stuff. Nordic stuff. Early Electronica. Bit of everything for me.
Sie – I usually travel light with a bag of seven inch singles! There will be some UK Freakbeat, some Joe Meek productions, Turkish psych rock, Spanish beat, American garage punk and some obvious classics – Stooges, MC5, Blue Cheer, Funkadelic and newer gear from labels like Great Pop Supplement and Ghost Box. Anyone who heard my set at the 2013 Liverpool Festival of Psychdelia will know what to expect…"
Why do you think vinyl production is important for music going forward?
"Ant - It's important for me because I've always collected it, and it's my preferred format for all the reasons associated. For some people it might not matter, each to their own. I think it'd be a shame to lose it as a format from a personal perspective. The same for someone who collects cd's etc. Good to see it making a come back, you don't get covered in shit digging through MP3s!"
If you could attend any gig of all time, what would it be?
"Ant - Tough question! Beatles rooftop gig
Sie - The Action, The Move and the Who on Morecambe Pier – sharp suited mod meets pop art with a dash of auto destruction – any one of a thousand bottom of the bill bands from the 60’s! John’s Children or a band like the Flies – proto punk freaks who tore up ‘steppin’ stone‘…"
Do you have a stand out gig from your youth that inspired you?
"Ant - Seeing Mudhoney and Nirvana on their first UK tours was great before it all got blown out of proportion. It was nice to be in small venues with those bands.
Sie – Loop and Primal Scream at Manchester International. Mary Chain and Pastels at Clouds in Preston – incendiary!…Stone Roses, early Verve gigs before the pomp set in – the Five Thirty – a band that managed to channel Hendrix, Fool’s Gold and the energy of the Jam…being a non-musician most gigs inspire me – most recently it’s been Michael Head and his Red Elastic Band…and Sunstone faves Three Dimensional Tanxs…"
Do you recommend any distros for fellow vinyl obsessives?
"Ant - The Active Listener"
Do you have a most treasured record?
"Ant - I have a few. Probably Lady Killer by Mouse on Sovereign
Sie – Signed Odyssey and Oracle by the Zombies , too many to mention – lots of records from Eastern Europe – Poland and the Czech Republic …the Sunstone releases all make me proud. Anything by Arthur Lee and Love, Rain Parade, Shack, Galaxie 500…endless…"
What have you been listening to today?
"Ant - Greek Theatre, Folkal Point, Stark Naked, Can, Bill Callahan
Sie – a CDR of the set I played when I played with the Lords of Thyme recently, a new album on Finders Keepers ‘all the colours of dark‘ an incredible soundtrack grail that has thankfully had a reissue, Satan’s Satyrs – filthy biker hard rock action, Atlas by Real Estate and the Klaus Johann Grobe album on Trouble in Mind – it’s amazing…Bakery – rock mass for love – Australian prog mass!"
What are you looking forward to this year?
"Ant - Releasing (Choose) Balduin's LP, and Volume 2 of Kosmischer Laufer (about time!)
Sie – Soundcarriers album, more from Sugarbush Records and our own label – Balduin album is stunning."
(Sunstone Records Left to Right - Sie Norfolk, Ant James, Will Crighton - Holding 'Klaus Johann Grobe - Traumhaft / Nicht Zu Stoppen)
Sunstone Records are an independent record label based in North West, England. They are responsible for immortalising sounds on wax from artists and bands all over the globe. "It's not about hobbies, it's how we are".
They've got a, lovingly, hand-picked selection of musicians all sharing a psychedelic tinge.
Sunstone Records were the first label to release Klaus Johann Grobe's music and will be the first to bring, the illusive, 'Balduin' to the UK for Soar Angelic Festival this month.
If you haven't yet checked out their artists - I recommend you do so. You'll find everything from 60's influenced psychedelic pop to acid folk.
There are lots of exciting releases in the pipeline for music lovers and all releases mindful of vinyl collectors.
Sunstone Records will host Soar Angelic Festival's finale on Saturday 24th May. Bringing festival goers the "Swiss alchemist of sound" 'Balduin' backed by 'The Lords of Thyme'. Balduin's first UK performance is bound to be compelling. His brand of dreamy psychedelic 60's sound seems truly heartfelt. 'Three Dimensional Tanx' are also sure to impress with their high intensity psychedelic pop music.
These differing sets will be sandwiched between Sunstone Records' wax stronghold - dished out by Ant and Sie. Not to be missed.
(Poster by Mike Howard)
Check out all Sunstone Records Artists here.
Keep your eyes peeled - Sound Stalker talks to 'Balduin' very soon.
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